Quote by Carl Sandburg

Pile the bodies high at Austerlitz and Waterloo. Shovel them under and let me workI am the grass; I cover all. And pile them high at GettysburgAnd pile them high at Ypres and Verdun. Shovel them under and let me work. Two years, ten years, and passengers ask the conductor:What place is this?Where are we now?I am the grass. Let me work.

Pile the bodies high at Austerlitz and Waterloo. Shovel them

Summary

This quote, from the poem "Grass" by Carl Sandburg, symbolizes the resilience and endurance of nature in the face of human destruction. The grass serves as a metaphor, representing the regenerative power of the earth. Regardless of the immense number of bodies buried during historical battles, such as Austerlitz, Waterloo, Gettysburg, Ypres, and Verdun, the grass continues to grow and cover them, showing that life persists even amidst death and destruction. The repetition of "Shovel them under and let me work" emphasizes the grass's determination to persist and reminds readers of the cyclical nature of life and death.

By Carl Sandburg

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